Portland Thorns forward Jackie Acevedo could be the replacement for an injured Alex Morgan

The Portland Thorns opened their first preseason training under new head coach Paul Riley Monday at Providence Park.

(Jamie Francis/The Oregonian)

Portland Thorns star forward Alex Morgan has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the beginning of the year. And if Morgan's injury continues to linger, Thorns coach Paul Riley will need to find a replacement for her on the field.

“I love her,” Riley said. “I hadn’t seen much of her, just game tape. But just to see her with our kids – she’s good, she’s sharp, she’s got a good brain on her, she moves well off the ball and she’s crafty around the net.”

The NWSL allocated Acevedo to the Thorns in January and it was unclear where the Mexican national team forward would fit into a Portland lineup that already includes world-renowned forwards Christine Sinclair and Morgan.

But with Morgan’s injury, Acevedo could end up being a key addition to Portland’s lineup to begin the season.

“Obviously, with Alex gone for a while, we need another forward,” Riley said. “Acevedo’s is going to help us.”